Here’s why Adur and Worthing recycling rates are on the rise

A combination of alternate weekly collections, warmer weather and the COVID-19 restrictions - which have seen people spend more time at home - are all believed to have contributed to waste falling and recycling increasing during April.

Combined with a rise in garden waste being collected this has seen the monthly recycling rate in Adur increase to 41.4 per cent while Worthing is now at 48.8 per cent.

The combined figure for April is 45 per cent, a record monthly high, putting Adur and Worthing on track for a combined annual recycling rate of 42 per cent - six percentage points higher than before alternate weekly collections were introduced in September.

Council leaders have thanked residents for playing their part, not only in reducing the amount of waste but also by ensuring that only clean, dry and loose materials are placed in the blue-lidded containers.

Emma Evans, Adur District Council’s executive member for environment, said: “I know lockdown life has been difficult for many but I want to thank all our residents for stepping up their recycling game in the last five weeks.

“Not only is the amount of recycling on the rise but the quality has improved too, which means that people are really taking care when disposing of their waste to make sure the right materials go in the right colour bin.”

Edward Crouch, Worthing Borough Council’s executive member for digital & environment, added: “It’s now seven months since we introduced alternate weekly collections and I’m delighted to see the positive impact it’s having on reducing refuse across the town.

“We may have reached a record level of recycling but we want to keep on going - which is why I encourage people to keep on doing what they’re doing, reducing their refuse, increasing their recycling for the overall benefit of our environment.”

Monthly figures show that the amount of general waste collected from Adur and Worthing households is down more than 150 tonnes compared to April 2019, the equivalent of 30 lorry loads. Meanwhile the amount of recycling has increased by 255 tonnes, or 50 lorry loads.

The most common items which some residents are not recycling, but could, include: plastic bottles, tubs and trays (including black plastic), cardboard, paper and glass bottles and jars. More information on what can be recycled can be found on the councils’ website.

Householders are also asked to crush down the waste in their bins so that larger objects, such as cardboard boxes, can fit into the blue lid bins.

The councils said large cardboard boxes would be taken if left by the side of the bins but only if they are flattened and not damp after being left out in the rain.

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